I completely agree. WOC is totally broken, both in terms of gameplay and mechanics. A complete disaster. The AI defense is a total joke, and the AI goaltending is atrocious. On top of that, the progression and ranking systems are awful and need a complete overhaul. Honestly, the entire World of Chel mode needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
I was honestly ready to throw NHL 26 in the trash, but my friend convinced me to keep playing. NHL holds a special place in my heart, and I’ve been buying every single edition since NHL 96. But it looks like this one might be my last. I probably won't be buying NHL 27 unless I see some actual, major progress. Which, let's be real, isn't going to happen because EA only cares about microtransactions and pumping out new cosmetics like hats, hoodies, pants, etc.
It's such a shame. After all these years, this game could have been absolutely elite, but instead, it’s just going downhill.